Khakhathi Milicent Ralinala

The utilization of unconventional feed resources offers a sustainable strategy to mitigate feed shortages particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where access to conventional feeds is often limited. Among these, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is one of the world’s most aggressive aquatic weeds, which has drawn attention due to its dual role as a problematic invasive species and a potential livestock feed. This plant reduces water quality, contributes to biodiversity loss and causes economic damage in farming systems. At the same time, its high capacity for nutrient absorption makes it a viable source of protein and energy for ruminants when properly harvested and processed into forms such as hay, dried leaves, and silage. However, its utilization requires caution, as the plant can accumulate toxins and heavy metals from polluted water, which may harm animal health if unprocessed. This review focuses on the potential of water hyacinth to improve ruminant growth performance, nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation. Including water hyacinth in ruminant diet safely can possibly improve animal productivity, contribute to sustainable weed management and also provide a practical strategy to alleviate feed shortage in dry seasons, thereby encouraging resilience and sustainable ruminant production.

The utilization of unconventional feed resources offers a sustainable strategy to mitigate feed shortages particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where access to conventional feeds is often limited. Therefore, among these, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has drawn attention due to its dual role as a problematic invasive weed and a potential livestock feed resource. As one of the world's most aggressive aquatic weeds, water hyacinth poses significant environmental and agricultural challenges by reducing water quality and quantity through excessive evapotranspiration, while also contributing to biodiversity loss and economic damage in farming systems. At the same time, its high capacity for nutrient-absorption makes it a viable source of protein and energy for ruminants when properly harvested and processed into forms such as hay, dried leaves, and silage. However, its utilization requires caution, as the plant can accumulate toxins and heavy metals from polluted water, which may harm animal health if unprocessed. Addressing global feed shortages particularly in the tropics during dry seasons requires innovative solutions. This review aims to synthesize the current knowledge on the potential of water hyacinth to enhance ruminant performance while contributing to sustainable weed management and improved agricultural resilience.